Legislation Introduction Thread

[MAS117]

It's probably not a good idea to endorse the activities of some subversives within one of our key allies' borders.  For the record, I'll be vetoing it if it ever got that far.

Don't worry about it, I just want to enter it on record.

[MAS117]

Mr. MAS117, submits the following bill:

**Offer amendments if you wish**

SENATORIAL DECORUM ACT

§ I.
The Senate shall pass a bill through the following three steps.
A. The presiding officer shall open up a hearing on the bill or amendment on the floor. That hearing is open to anyone in the Republic of Atlasia. Time for such a hearing shall last for 48 or 72 hours, and shall be written by the presiding officer in the orginial post.
B. After the hearing, the presiding officer shall move into a debate on the amendment or bill, which is open to Senators ONLY. Anyone else who wishes to comment or talk about the bill will do so in the hearing. Debate shall last for 48 or 72 hours, or as long as the presiding officer yields time.
C. After debate is concluded the presiding officer shall open up a voting thread on the bill or amendment on the floor.
D. After passage of said amendment or bill, the bill moves to the President's desk for his signature or veto.

§ II.
A. Opening Debate

A presiding officer shall open debate on the Senate Floor by opening a new thread in the Floor forum. The bill or question which is open for debate shall be posted at the top of said thread, and the presiding officer shall state the time and date at which debate will ordinarily end.

Each new question shall be discussed in a new thread, though amended bills may continue to debate in the original thread after considering an amendment.

B. Speaking in debate
Only Senators may speak during Senate debate. Members should address their comments through the presiding officer, opening their comments with “Mr. President” or “Madame President.” When an amendment or other motion is offered, it shall be considered a new question for debate purposes. When a Senator is done speaking, he must yield back to the presiding officer by simply stating, "I yield."

C. Decorum
Members should confine their remarks to the merits of the pending question before the House. In referring to another member, members should avoid referring to their colleagues by name, instead referring to “the gentleman from Ohio”, “the gentlelady from Texas,” “the Senator from New Hampshire” or, as a last resort, “Senator (name)”.

Members shall not threaten, accuse or question the motives of another member; nor act in a manner that disturbs the Senate or its procedures; nor use profanity or sexual innuendo; nor speak against their own motion or bill; nor speak adversely on a prior action not pending; nor speak in a language other than English during debate.

D. Extending Debate

1) Following amendments

If an amendment has been passed, the presiding officer should extend debate so that the bill may be considered for at least the same amount of time as originally allotted. For example, if a bill on which debate opens Monday for seven days is amended on Wednesday and Thursday, the original debate thread should be extended for two days past its original deadline, so that the original question shall have been considered for seven days.

2) On Speaker's (or Chair's) authority

Presiding officers are free to extend debate for several days if it is to the benefit of the Senate. Such extensions are made with the presumption or unanimous consent, but if two members shall object, the question of extending debate shall immediately be put to a vote, where a 2/3rds majority shall be necessary to extend debate.

E. Closing Debate

Debate shall be closed at the end of the allotted time period. It may be closed early if no member has risen to speak on a question in 48 hours.

§ III.
A. UC Motions
It is the right of every Senator to call for a unanimous consent to a bill or amendment. That motion must be seconded by another Senator. After a second, the presiding officer shall give 48 hours for UC objections. If no objection has arised and been seconded, the bill is considered passed by UC.

B. Table motions
It is the right of every Senator to call for a motion to table to a bill or amendment. That motion must be seconded by another Senator. After a second, the presiding officer shall open up a vote on whether to table said bill or amendment on the floor. Objections to tables are noted, but the presiding officer should open up a vote anyway.